Attachement - Learning Theory

Question 1

Use classical conditioning in the case of attachment

Answer 1

Food - unconditioned stimulus
Getting food/ being fed gives us pleasure - unconditioned response
A caregiver starts as neutral stimulus - produces neutral response
When same caregiver provides food over time
Caregiver associated with food (ucs+ns)
Neutral stimulus (caregiver) now the conditioned stimulus
Conditioned response of pleasure when caregiver seen

Question 2

How does operant conditioning explain babies crying for comfort

Answer 2

Crying leads to a response from the caregiver
For example feeding
As long as caregiver provides correct response -crying is reinforced
Baby directs crying for comfort towards caregiver who responds with comforting social suppressor behaviour

Question 3

How is reinforcement a two way process

Answer 3

Caregiver receives negative reinforcement
Continues to feed
Crying stops
Escaping from something unpleasant is reinforcing

Question 4

Explain drive reduction

Answer 4

Hunger is a primary drive
It is an innate and biological motivator
We are motivated to eat and reduce the hunger drive

As caregivers provide food the primary drive of hunger becomes generalised to them.
Attachment is then a secondary drive learned by association of caregiver and satisfaction of a primary drive

Question 5

What is a limitation of learning theory (animal studies)

Answer 5

Counter evidence from animal research
For example Lorenz geese imprinted before they were fed and maintained these attachments regardless of who fed them.

Harlows monkeys attached to soft surrogate in preference to wire one that dispensed milk

Learning theory suggest animals and humans equivalent so food does create attachment bond in humans too.

Question 6

What is another limitation of learning theory (human research )

Answer 6

There is evidence from human research that shows feeding not important factor in human attachment

Eg Schaffer and Emerson’s study showed that many of the babies developed primary attachment to their biological mother

even though other careers did feeding

Feeding not key element to attachment so no US and primary drive involved

Question 7

What is another limitation of learning theory (ignores other factors)

Answer 7

Learning theory ignores other factors associated with forming attachments

Eg the quality of attachment appears to be associated with factors like developing reciprocity and good levels interactional synchrony

If attachment developed primarily as result of feeding,
No purpose for these complex interactions

Would not expect to find relationship between them and the quality of attachment but we do.

Question 8

What is a strength of learning theory (newer learning theory )

Answer 8

Social learning theory has made an important additional contribution to original learning approach
This is through ideas of modelling and imitation

Eg hay and Vespa 1988 suggest parents teach children to love them by modelling attachment behaviour
Hugging them and hugging other family members

This suggests learning theory can be adapted to explain attachment without emphasising importance of feeding.